On Marriage

Marriage is a simple thing, and the simple things are very hard.

At the blessing of a marriage a charge is given to the couple just as a bishop gives a charge to men being ordained to the priesthood. You are on a mission from God now. You are responsible both as a couple and as individuals for everything you do, or fail to do, in this marriage. You are taking on a great responsibility to firstly God, and secondly to each other. It is an indissoluble union between the two of you, made for solemn service to God, one another, the Church, and humanity.

“It is not good that the man should be alone,” we read in the book of Genesis. So we know that marriage is for mutual support and comfort, and if God wills it, for the procreation of children, but we also must understand that Christian marriage is a thing that demands service, sacrifice and loyalty.

It is a great instruction to us that God has continually taught us through Holy writ, that the Kingdom of God is like unto a marriage. The many parables that Jesus told, using marriage as a simile for the Kingdom of God lift marriage out of the realm of the secular and into the realm of the divine. Most of us are familiar with those parables, and we remember that Jesus did his first miracle at the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee, also his reply to the scribes and Pharisees about the nature of marriage and divorce. Jesus told them, when they recounted that Moses had given permission to divorce in the event of adultery, that single exception was given because of the hardness of their hearts. So, the inference is that someone who puts away a spouse for such a cause has a hard heart, and also such a divorce is not pleasing to God.

The Old Testament also speaks to us of marriage. It speaks in a brutal and frank way with a demand for absolute fidelity, even when the other partner has grievously sinned. I am speaking of the Book of Hosea now. Hosea’s wife, Gomer, was anything but a faithful wife, but God made it clear that he was to not only forgive her, but to seek after her even to the point of buying her out of slavery when she ultimately put herself in that position, and also to raising the bastard children that she tried to pass off as Hoseas’. That is an incredibly high standard for this world, one that most of us would never even think of trying to live up to.

So what is God’s point? Well, He wants each one of his children to be just like Jesus, in other words perfect like the Father Himself, And God is always faithful, and God always keeps His promises, even when we don’t keep ours. When God enters into covenant with us we make certain promises to Him and Him to us. When we fail to keep our part of the covenant God does not divorce us, He continues to be faithful. If both parties to a marriage can keep troth in this fashion, then a strong Christian marriage has been established. One that serves the husband and wife, that serves God, serves the Church and the entire community of humanity. But even if only one manages to keep troth, then a great spiritual work has been accomplished in the name of God, one that brings great spiritual benefit.

The priestly charge to the couple is to remain loyal and true to each other and to let nothing stand in the way of or affect your faithfulness to one another. God requires this of you. If you can accomplish this then you will have obtained an object with great spiritual rewards, a blessing for yourselves, the Church, and the larger community, an ensample of Holy living and a great witness to the power of God, who remains faithful and true come whatever.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

-- Fr. Roddy+

All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee
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SERVICES & EVENTS

Sunday, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM & 11:15 AM Services (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland)

Nursery, 9:00 AM & 11:15 AM Services

Sunday School, 10:30 AM 

No Discussion of the Saints this Monday due to Vestry meeting, next one January 26 at 7:30 PM; Fr. Bragg continues his study and discussion on the Saints. If you couldn't make it to the first ones, you're still welcome to attend the following ones.

Monday, January 19, 7:30 PM, Vestry Meeting, undercroft  (no Saints study and discussion that evening)

Wednesday, Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing

Sunday, January 25, 7:45 AM Service, 10:00 AM Combined Service (no 9:00 &11:15 AM Services) followed by Annual Parish Meeting.
All confirmed or received members of the parish who are 18 years of age or older, please fill out a proxy form at church or respond to this email stating "I give my proxy to the Senior Warden/ Junior Warden (or whoever else you wish to give it  to). We need to have a quorum for the annual meeting as under the canons of the church it must be held before the end of January.

Women’s Retreat, Saturday, January 31, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Church of the Ascension, 13941 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA. The retreat leaders will be The Ven. Michael Weaver, our own Rev. Chris Fish, and The Rev John Needham, who will guide the group through a day of reflection, renewal, and connection. The cost is $20 per participant. To sign up you can register by copying and pasting the following in your browser: https://dmas-acc.org/upcoming  or contact Mrs. Debbie Weaver at 703-339-6965 or at dweaver63@verizon.net.
 
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Critical Needs 
Thank you for your help. Instead of presenting the whole list of needs, we are emphasizing the critical needs that MaRiH Center has and listing some other needs. The critical needs list below has been updated:
Diapers, sizes 5 and 6
Winter coats (Boys & Girls), size 2T 
Winter clothing, sizes 3- 6 months and 2T 
Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Lovies, rattles, teethers
Other needs:
Diapers, newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Fall/Winter Clothing, 6-9 month, 9-12 month, 12 month-18 month, 18-24month
Bibs, infant
Winter Coats, all baby sizes
There are two options for helping the Center with this need! 
 
Option 1 
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.  

The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774

Option 2 
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRIH Center.
 

Food Bank Needs
 
With the cold weather here the food bank has more folks who need food. Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar).  Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.

Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
peanut butter
jelly
tuna
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso,noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625